Drinking support system

ABSTRACT

A drinking support system for delivering liquid to an individual in which one or more bottles are each connected through a sealing cap using a tube to the individual on demand. The cap is elastic and contains sealing and anchoring elements to matches a variety of respective sealing surfaces. Through the cap a tube is inserted, mechanically supported by a conical support.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of auxiliary appliances forperformers of physical activity and sports. The present inventionprovides a convenient system for the support of drinking through tubes.More specifically the invention is a drinking appliance for bicycleriders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Continuous physical activity results in dehydration through loss ofwater through sweat. The replenishment of body water through drinkingwhile performing sports and physical exertion requires the personinvolved to set aside other activity and spend time on finding a sourceof drink and then partaking of said beverage. However, for those engagedin sport activities the non-interruption of the activity may be crucialfor succeeding in the competition in which they are engaged. Also,noncompetitive people may prefer a having handsfree water drinkingsource for satisfying their thirst. The present invention provides asolution for implementing handfree drinking while permitting physicalactivity to continue by the performer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic isometric description of a narrow bottleneck of abottle that is typically used in a system implementing the presentinvention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of a sealing cap of the inventionapplied to a bottle;

FIG. 1C is a cross sectional view in a narrow bottleneck sealed by asealing cap of the invention, with a drinking tube inserted;

FIG. 1D is a detailed cross sectional view in the sealing arrangement ofFIG. 1C;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view in a sealing cap possessing internaland external sealing regions;

FIG. 3A is a cross sectional view in the upper part of a widebottlenecked container sealed by a sealing cap of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view in the upper part of a widebottlenecked container sealed by a sealing cap of the invention,describing the sealing regions;

FIG. 4A is an isometric view of a conical drinking tube support showingstraight drinking tube inserted and seat accommodated for handlebar of abicycle;

FIG. 4B is an isometric view of a conical drinking tube support showinga spiral drinking tube resting its spiral son the conical support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is a drinking support system providing forhandsfree delivery of fluids to an individual, in which a single or aplurality of water/liquid reservoirs deliver their contents typically ondemand. Usually one or more tubes for drawing water from the reservoirsare made available to the drinker, who can repeatedly engage her/himselfin sipping liquid from the reservoirs.

One aspect of the invention is a water container cap, inclusive of a tothrough passage for a drinking tube. The cap can be applied to theorifices of a variety of water containers such as bottles or canteens.The use of such a cap obviates the need to exchange caps and drinkingtubes for specific water containers available.

Typically soft drink and water bottles orifices have an either small is(referred to as 28 or 30 millimeter neck size), or 30 millimeter necksize. Wider orifice sizes are less common but commonly occur. Inaccordance with the present invention three classes of adaptable capsare provided. Category “a” caps are such caps that hermetically sealsmall neck size bottle. In FIG. 1A to which reference is now made aschematic description of bottleneck 22 of the category is shown. Thereare typically several sealing regions applicable in such bottles, thatthe cap of the invention may engage, all, some or one, to seal theliquid passageway from the bottle through the drinking tube. Sealingregion 24 is the horizontal surface at the topmost part of thebottleneck. All other sealing surfaces in the bottle are associated withthe vertical surface of the bottle neck. Accordingly sealing region 26is the peripheral section below the horizontal surface and above screwthread 28. Below the thread, smooth circumferential zone 30 is apotential sealing zone. Peripheral ridge 32 is typically slanted but canalso be used for sealing. Smooth circumferential area 34 below ridge 32can be used for sealing as well. Peripheral ridge 36 is typically a mostprominent topographic element on the bottleneck, making it a candidateof choice for sealing purposes. Smooth circumferential area 38 belowridge 36 can be used for sealing as well. For accomplishing high-qualitysealing it is required that two to surfaces are tightly juxtaposedwithout leaving any spaces in between. The sealing cap must be anchoredsufficiently tightly to the bottle in order to prevent juxtaposedsealing surfaces from separating. The ridges and thread on thebottleneck are utilized for such anchoring. In FIG. 1B to whichreference is now made, bottle top 42 is shown with cap 44 of theinvention covering the bottle neck, while drinking tube 46 passesthrough from the outside to the inner side of the bottle, typicallyreaching the bottom. In FIG. 1C to which reference is now made, a crosssectional view in the bottleneck, sealing cap and drinking tube isshown, showing the intricate association between the cap and the bottleneck features. This association is shown more clearly in FIG. 1D towhich reference is now made. A cross sectional view in the cap engagedwith sealing regions in the bottle is shown. The right side of cap 44 isshown hatched in the section, while the symmetrical left half of the capis not shown to enhance the neck topography. Sealing region 24 is shownfully engaged by cap 44 in the right side of the drawing. Sealing region26 is abutted by a complementary ridge in the cap (shown in the rightside), thread 28 is unmatched, and is not used in sealing. All the othertopographic features of the bottle cap as explained in FIG. 1A above arepresent and numbered the same in FIG. 1D. All sealing regions arematched by an equivalent part in the cap. The top most sealing region,24, which is the horizontal surface at the top of the bottle, is abuttedfrom above and from the inside of the bottle by cap element 62. Itshould be noted that the drinking tube held by the cap is also sealed bythe cap.

In another aspect of the system of the invention, category “b” capsinclude a substantial internal sealing structural element in addition tothe external neck sealing elements or in some embodiments only internalsealing elements may be provided. In FIG. 2 to which reference is nowmade, a cross sectional view in a bottle neck 68—cap 70—drinking tube 72assembly is shown. Internal sealing structure 74 is shown on the leftside without the external sealing structure. In this example, theexternal sealing elements of the cap are exactly as shown above, but inother embodiments there may be no lateral external sealing elements atall. In the left side of the drawing, symmetrical with the right side,the bottle wall and external sealing structure was removed to emphasizeinternal sealing elements 76, 78, and 80. Upper sealing surface 82 isusually a preferred sealing site because by sealing the orifice of thebottle, the delivery of liquid from the bottle is stopped at the origin.Different varieties of the cap exist implementing various numbers andsize of internal sealing elements.

In another aspect of the system of the invention, category “c” caps areprovided which seal bottles with larger than usual orifices, referred toalso as wide bottlenecked bottles. The diameter of such large orifice isin the range of 30-40 millimeters, or even in the range of 50-70millimeters. As can be seen in FIG. 3A-B to which reference is now made,the cap in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is capable ofsealing orifices of varying large sizes. Cap 92, shown without the lefthalf, tightly wraps drinking tube 94, providing sealing. On the lefthand side of the drawing in FIG. 3A, the bottle neck external topographyis exposed, showing thread 96 which as can be seen on the right handside, is not engaged by the internal sealing elements of the cap. Thesealing elements of the cap are better seen in FIG. 3B, showing uppersealing surface 102, topmost lateral sealing element 104, and the restof the lateral sealing elements 106, 108 and the lowest 110.

The tube ending in the container may be set to the lowest point in thecontainer or to any height in the bottle up to the cap itself. The otherside of the tubing may be very short, just enough to attach a mouthpieceto it, or it may be made as a very long connection between the cap andthe mouthpiece, for example if the container, one or more are kept inback of the vehicle and the mouthpiece is kept in the driver's mouth.

Other Cap Features

The cap of the invention is preferably flexible and elastic, typicallymade of a flexible thermoplastic resin, rubber, silicone rubber and/orthermoplastic elastomers. However, the cap in some embodiments isnon-homogenous or it may be made composed of different structural zones.For example, the sealing regions can be made of softer resin while thestructural body of anchoring elements such as the sealing elementclinging to ridge 36 of rigid resin. A vent is typically a perforationin the upper plain of the cap but it may be a one way valve inserted ina specially prepared hole in the cap. In some embodiments a gasket isinserted in the cap to seal the upper sealing region of the container.In some embodiments the cap is made such the horizontal upper zonesuperposed above the upper sealing region of the bottle is rigid whereasthe anchoring regions in the lateral sections of the cap are elastic. Insome embodiments the cap is entirely rigid in.

In some embodiments of the present invention a mouthpiece is directlyconnected to the cap having a connection with the void of the containerbelow, to with or without a tube reaching inside the container.

Drinking Tube Support

Another aspect of the invention is a drinking tube support member, asshown in FIGS. 4A-B, to which reference is now made. In FIG. 4A conicalmechanical support 128 is shown into which straight drinking tube 130 isinserted. Typically, the drinking tube bears a mouthpiece 132. In a mostprevalent case, the conical mechanical support of the invention is to beattached to a bar of a bicycle, and to accommodate to such bar, baradapter 134 is included at the bottom of the conical mechanical support.The conical mechanical support once engaged with the handle bar ofbicycle can be locked in situ for example by a flexible band arrangementor by one or more screws. In FIG. 4B, conical mechanical support 128 iswrapped by a spiral section of the drinking tube. The tubing can bepicked up using the mouthpiece 132. In the direction of arrow 136 thetubing leads to a water reservoir, not shown. A straight tubing aspreviously described may be included but not shown here. The conicalmechanical support once attached to a handlebar of the bicycle permitsthe rider to adjust the inclination and positioning of the mechanicalsupport, to easily pick up the free end a, release it and pick up againconveniently.

Applications of the Invention

The drinking support system of the invention is implemented inassociation with mobile platforms. Typically a bicycle, boat, tractor,car or any bag, typically a bag worn on the back such as rucksack orknapsack. The users may be grouped into characteristic implementation ofthe drinking need. Athletes requiring free hands over long periods arean obvious group. Working people requiring free hands over long periodsof time, such as manual abourers, farmers, typists and computertechnicians. Disabled individuals can make use of a system of theinvention, because the system lends itself easily to application in awheelchair environment. Hard working scholars, office workers orstudents is may also find the system useful for support drinking overlong sitting periods.

Recreational uses such as trekkers, hunters, and any outdoor garners,soldiers watchmen and the like are potential users of the system of theinvention.

1. A drinking support system for delivering liquid to an individual,said system comprising: at least one liquid reservoir; an elastic capfor sealing said reservoir, wherein said cap comprises: at least onesealing and anchoring element at least one of which matches respectiveat least one sealing surface of said at least one reservoir; a passagefor a drinking tube; a tube for delivering liquid from said reservoir tosaid individual, and a physical conical support for said drinking tubewherein said support is attached at its base to a platform.
 2. Adrinking support system as in claim 1 wherein said liquid reservoir is anarrow bottlenecked bottle.
 3. A drinking support system as in claim 1wherein said liquid reservoir is a wide bottlenecked bottle.
 4. Anelastic cap for sealing a container of liquids wherein said cap iscapable of being sealingly engaged with at least one sealing region ofsaid container.
 5. A cap for sealing a container of liquids as in claim4 wherein said cap is sealingly engaged with six lateral and onehorizontal sealing regions of said container, and wherein said containeris a drink bottle.
 6. A cap for sealing a container of liquids as inclaim 4 wherein said cap is sealingly engaged with an internal surfaceof said container.
 7. A cap for sealing a container of liquids as inclaim 4 wherein said cap is sealingly engaged with an internal surfaceof said container and with at least one external sealing region of saidbottle.
 8. A cap for sealing a container of liquids as in claim 4wherein a mouthpiece is directly connected to an aperture in said cap.9. A drinking support system as in claim 1 wherein said elastic cap isnon homogeneous, comprising different zone materials.
 10. A drinkingsupport system as in claim 9 wherein the horizontal upper layer of saidcap is rigid whereas the anchoring regions in the lateral sections ofthe cap are elastic.
 11. A mechanical conical support for at least onedrinking tube wherein said support retains said at least one drinkingtube in a position for the free end of said tube to be picked up by anindividual, and wherein the base of said mechanical support isaccommodated for attaching to a support whereby said individual is ableto release said free end without losing said free end.
 12. A mechanicalconical support for at least one drinking tube as in claim 11 whereintwo tubes are retained.
 13. A mechanical conical support for at leastone drinking tube as in claim 11 wherein one tube is spiral.
 14. Amechanical conical support for at least one drinking tube as in claim 11wherein said mechanical conical support is engaged with a bar of abicycle.
 15. A mechanical conical support for at least one drinking tubeas in claim 11 wherein the position of said support is adjustable bysaid individual.